secular

Definitions

1. 1.Pertaining to an age, or the progress of ages, or to a long period of time; accomplished in a long progress of time; as, secular inequality; the secular refrigeration of the globe.
2. 2.Of or pertaining to this present world, or to things not spiritual or holy; relating to temporal as distinguished from eternal interests; not immediately or primarily respecting the soul, but the body; worldly. New foes arise, Threatening to bind our souls with secular chains. Milton.
3. 3.(Eccl.) Not regular; not bound by monastic vows or rules; not confined to a monastery, or subject to the rules of a religious community; as, a secular priest. He tried to enforce a stricter discipline and greater regard for morals, both in the religious orders and the secular clergy. Prescett.
4. 4.Belonging to the laity; lay; not clerical. I speak of folk in secular estate. Chaucer. Secular equation (Astron.), the algebraic or numerical expression of the magnitude of the inequalities in a planet's motion that remain after the inequalities of a short period have been allowed for. -- Secular games (Rom. Antiq.), games celebrated, at long but irregular intervals, for three days and nights, with sacrifices, theatrical shows, combats, sports, and the like. -- Secular music, any music or songs not adapted to sacred uses. -- Secular hymn or poem, a hymn or poem composed for the secular games, or sung or rehearsed at those games.
5. 5.(Eccl.) A secular ecclesiastic, or one not bound by monastic rules. Burke.
6. 6.(Eccl.) A church official whose functions are confined to the vocal department of the choir. Busby.
7. 7.A layman, as distinguished from a clergyman.

Source: Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913 edition (public domain, via GCIDE / Project Gutenberg).

Synonyms

Related questions

• What does "secular" mean?
• What is another word for "secular"?

Reverse-dictionary questions

Definition-first questions whose answer is secular.

• What is pertaining to an age, or the progress of ages, or to a long period of time; accomplished in a long progress of time; as, secular inequality; the secular refrigeration of the globe called?
• What is a secular ecclesiastic, or one not bound by monastic rules. Burke called?
• What is a church official whose functions are confined to the vocal department of the choir. Busby called?
• What is a layman, as distinguished from a clergyman called?